I am looking to spend a month or longer in India to learn basic Ayurveda theory. I am also very interested in Ayurvedic Massage and Beauty therapies. I have found several schools and training programs but need some advice on which location or program is best.

escapeartist, as a suggestion, there are two excellent ayurvedic schools in the US, both in New Mexico. One is the school of Dr. Vasant Lad, the other is the school of David Frawley. They're the real deal. You can google their names, but I will also return later to supply their websites....

You might want to check out these places first before going to India. I have read Fraweley's books, and from what I've heard about both, their schools are about the closest thing you can get to Indian ayurvedic studies in the US.

Originally Posted by escapeartist75I am looking to spend a month or longer in India to learn basic Ayurveda theory. I am also very interested in Ayurvedic Massage and Beauty therapies. I have found several schools and training programs but need some advice on which location or program is best.

"Applications are invited for the Entrance Examination for admission to Post Graduate Degree Courses in Ayurveda for the year 2006-07 in the Government Ayurveda Colleges at Thiruvananthapuram, Thrippunithura and Kannur and V.P.S.V. Ayurveda College, Kottakkal in the following specialties."http://www.cee-kerala.org/pgayur/200...FCN-MDA-07.pdf

Clairfication of original post...

Thanks for your replies. Just to clarify, I am aware that to truly learn Ayurveda I would need much more education/time than this and a much more detailed program. Some of the programs I am looking at are for introductory classes or are level 1 of many more levels. I am not trying to go for a month and claim to be a practioner, just looking to travel to India to learn something new and to do some travelling after.

YogaGal, thanks for your notes about the US schools. I have loooked into them but they do not provide the type of experience I am currently looking for. They are all highly intensive and several years worth of study. If I really like what I learn in India I would consider ernrolling in a more detailed program.

Originally Posted by AvidTrekkerHa! I'll learn some massage style with my feet, use lotions from bottles labelled with Kerala labels, and declare myself an expert aayurvedic doctor !! Who's going to ask, BTW?

Anyone want my treatment?
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It sounds funny to you but most "Ayurvedic treatment" here means that this person has a little knowledge how to give oil massages. Ok, they would never claim they are doctors, but still it has little to do with Ayurveda...

Let me explain...

Quote:

Originally Posted by federicaIt sounds funny to you but most "Ayurvedic treatment" here means that this person has a little knowledge how to give oil massages. Ok, they would never claim they are doctors, but still it has little to do with Ayurveda...

Now this panchakarma is a cleansing routine, something like cutting and cleaning the veggies before a meal. It is around 5 to 10 percent of the treatment, depending on the disease and patient. In THIS 5 to 10 percent, oil massage called abhyanga plays a preliminary role as a pre-panchakarma "relaxing" treatment. It is around 20 percent of this five to ten percent.

My smile is directed at those people who learn this miniscule percentage of the whole thing and declare that "I have done a course on aayurveda".... whereas they should be saying that "i have done a course on Indian/kerala/whatever massage. [the massage techniques differ from region to region and doctor to doctor].

This is somewhat like those who do exercises called "aasanas" and say that "I am doing yoga" [they should be saying that "i am doing aasanas"]

Am sorry if i have offended you, but most Westerners go into these short term courses to satisfy the urge to learn something exotic [read "oriental]" and end up merely scratching the surface.

Most Indian children have enjoyed this "abhyanga" massage at young age [0.1 to 2yrs] at their mother's hands or the mother's "maternity maid"'s hands. These people have not learnt it at some "course", it is in their blood and culture.... for the last 5000 years at least. [Of course, city bred folk are forgetting it VERY fast]

My smile is directed at the shallowness of those who make claims of having mastered something, when they have barely learnt some "technique".

Let me ask you a counter question... nurses in hospitals are allowed to give injections to most patients... and they do it more gently than doctors.... can they ever claim that "i have done a 5 percent doctor's course"??

this was a big missunderstanding, I was not offended at all!!! So no need to excuse!

The intention of my post was to give you the idea that it is so pretty normal here to do a short term course and call yourself something like Ayurveda practioner, people would be more surprised if you tell them that you can study it at University level...

Of course for you as an Indian and as someone who is interested in these things it may sound funny or maybe a little bit shocking, but for people with an average western background it is just normality (I am not including myself here )

Ayurveda becomes more and more popular in Germany, and there are ayurvedic doctors and clinics here, but not many. For a lot of people it is still just a way of massage

Introductory Ayurveda Programs in Kannur

After much research from my original thread I have narrowed my search down to 2 programs below.

Both program are in Kannur, Kerala. I only want to experience and learn a little bit about Ayurveda (just a 1 month program). I was wondering if anyone has attended any of these programs or can give me any advice on either school or program being offered.

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